I head back from the blacksmith's shop and meet up with the rest of the group, Zey excluded obviously.

«Did you meet with him?» (Noemi)

«No, I just met his teacher. I couldn't bring myself to interrupt his training with his new "Friend"» (Me)

Noemi grins. I wish I didn't know what that grin cheeky grin means.

«Let's leave them alone for now. In a few months, we'll get them back. We have fate on our side after all.» (Me)

«What do you mean by that?» (Laura)

«The old man that is training him is the legendary dragon that can see people's fate. It's common knowledge around here. It would be weird for him to just pick up some random kid that comes from who knows where.» (Me)

(Devouring monster)

«That really seems weird...» (Laura)

«But...» (Me)

I make a pause and wait for everyone to look at me in suspense.

«Buuuuuuut?!» (Noemi)

«He was waiting for someone to arrive at the to arrive so, we might wait for that someone as well.» (Me)

«Wouldn't that be you then?» (Laura)

«Why would he look so shocked when I approached him then?» (Me)

Everyone thought to themselves but whenever they looked like they thought of something, they would go back into deep thought again as if they had either forgotten or thought of it incorrect. In the end, they couldn't come to another conclusion.

«Yes. Until then, let's sharpen our skills. When that someone arrives, we'll depart again.» (Me)

Even though everyone went their way again, they still had doubts. Especially Noemi. She knew that I wasn't normal to begin with, even if I didn't know. From the "beginning", she had known me better than I myself do. She knows how to deal with me, with my problems, and I ended up loving her like she wanted me to. Women are scary.

After that, I started thinking of new weapon ideas before realizing I forgot to give the shield to Gonzo.

-I still need more information. I might just pay another visit to the dragon...-

I walk to where I met the dragon just a while ago. Once I saw him, I unconsciously salivated. That gave me an idea.

(Me)

(Devouring monster)

(Me)

I see the monster grinning.

(Devouring monster)

-He knows something...-

I signal the old dragon to come over. He panics before slipping away while the two kids were aggressively hitting each other and flirting at the same time. I was a weird sight.

«W-what do you want?» (Old dragon)

(Me)

We awkwardly look at each other before I make a blade and hand it to him.

«Cut a bit of yourself and give it to me.» (Me)

The old dragon almost fainted to the request.

«Why would you... want such a thing?» (Old dragon)

«I have my own reasons. I guarantee it'll help those two. It's fate I guess.» (Me)

The old dragon was shocked beyond belief. The request was absurd but I was affirming that it would help their fate. He was perplexed but in the end, grabbed the blade and, while chanting healing magic, cut his whole arm off.

(Kit)

-I forgot about Kit again...-

He grabs the bloody arm while a new one was growing back and for the first time, his eyes that never made contact with mine finally did. I could feel his determination and resolve on my skin. It's scary. I fake a confident smile while I grab his severed arm.

«Don't worry. With this, I'll be able to guarantee everything will go according to the plan.» (Me)

«I don't know how but whatever. If I ever find out that those were just hollow words, I'll go through hell to have you pay for it.» (Old dragon)

(Me)

(Devouring monster)

I head to the nearby forest. I intend on checking fate and then start practicing all the skill that I have.

I arrive at the heart of the forest and climb to the upper branches of the highest tree. I sit down and take the dragon's arm out.

-Here I go.-

I start munching on the old dragon's arm. It's kind of hard to bit off and chew but it's surprisingly tasty. That's of course because my tongue had deteriorated tot he point of anything that doesn't taste awfully seems to taste good.

I finish the arm and decide to appraise myself. It could happen that I couldn't get the skill. While I try o do it, the devouring monster starts smiling and grinning while containing his evil laughter. The reason became obvious after a few seconds...

I can't appraise myself.

I tried appraising other things around me and all the results came up as expected. The squirrels, the weeds, the trees, and even a wandering spirit I accidentally appraised. But for me, I couldn't be appraised. I could still use all the skills like magic and the devouring monster was still around so my skill was still there.

In pure disbelief, I tried to see something's fate...after a few tries, it worked on the squirrel. I could see she was going to find a good male in a week. The Weeds would grow and in a few years, there would be a massive fire that would burn everything to the ground. The only thing fated to survive was the giant tree I was sitting on. This tree would survive another thousand years before getting hit by a meteor.

Me... it was all black. I couldn't see anything.

In front of me, the monster materialized in the form of a shadow. His large, devilish grin scared me to my core. He knew it from the beginning.

(Devouring monster)

He looks around and sees Kit sitting very quiet on another branch, ready to hear everything. He then looked me in the eyes, right into my soul.

(Devouring monster)

My chin drops as I throw my hands all over my body to check if I could feel anything. But even after a while, I didn't notice anything abnormal and looked back at the monster, perplexed.

(Devouring monster)

I look at him in absolute confusion. His grin becomes as big as it can get. Literally from ear to ear.

(Devouring monster)

At that point, I started to realize what this was all about.

«I'm...» (Me)

I start stuttering in panic

(Devouring monster)

I start trembling uncontrollably. Everything I had tried to forget was coming back.

(Devouring monster)

I fall from the tree branch and land flat on my back. I'm in pain but I can't feel it anymore. My mind is clouded by doubts and questions. At this point, not even the crazy laughter of the devouring monster can reach my senses. My mind was clouded.

-Who... Am I?-